He is the first Chinese citizen to win the Peace Prize and one of three people to have received it while incarcerated....

In announcing the prize on Friday, the committee noted that China, now the world’s second biggest economy, should be commended for lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. But it chastised the government for ignoring basic rights guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution and the international conventions to which Beijing is a party. “In practice, these freedoms have proved to be distinctly curtailed for China’s citizens,” the committee said, adding, “China’s new status must entail increased responsibility.”

The official Chinese response: "“Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who has been sentenced by Chinese judicial departments for violating Chinese law.”

21 comments:

Was he able to swing authorizing 30,000 from prison? That would get him the Nobel Goomba Prize surely. As a follow up question, aren't you obligated to authorize 30,000 additional combat troops after getting a Nobel Peace Prize?

I remember one more time that a key to recognizing a tyrant speaking to you is that they will always reply to you with a version of, "that Question does not arise". That is a display of your weakness in face of their strength. I am watching to see how many "that question does not arise's" come from Obama through his Government Media in the next 2 years. The act of asking cogent questions is the act of free men. That is one reason that terrible Elliott Spitzer impressed me with his skills.

Last year, many thought (quite sensibly) that the Norwegians had made a ridiculous choice for bad reasons. And then they do this, which more than redeems what was, in retrospect, just a silly and harmless embarrassment (to them and O).

The Chinese gov't wants to be a global player and wants to be accepted as a modern and responsible leader on the world'[s stage. An award like this, spotlighting how far from 'acceptable' the Chinese gov't still remains, is important. But the point needs to be made, again and again, by the Americans, the Europeans and the Asian democracies.

It can work. Stu Levey (Under sec'y of the treasury for antiterrorism and a Bush Admin holdover) was on Charlie Rose a few nights ago, discussing the cooperation he has received around the world. He made a point of noting that the Chinese, despite their official support of Iran, have been very cooperative in shutting down access to Chinese banks and financial institutions by known terrorist organizations. He said that a key factor was their desire to avoid the reputational harm of being a facilitator of activities that have been widely condemned (i.e., aiding terrorist activities).

The same concerns will weigh on the Chinese gov't in this area too, but only if the spotlight remains focused and the issue receives high-profile attention. Progress will necessarily be slow and incremental, but it will be nonexistent without constant pressure.

So, now that the lefties running the Norwegian Nobel committee have stepped up to the plate, it's up to Obama and Hillary to lead the charge. I'm not holding by breath.

In office politics, it's generally true that it takes three really good acts/achievements to erase a bad one from the minds of your co-workers. Perhaps this will be true with the peace prize. One can only hope.

This happens in a context of a nation that has modernized faster than any other country, even Meiji Japan. In a context where the people polled have the highest positive vote for "satisfaction" with government policies than any country on earth. Where nationalism is high - there is great approval not only for trains running on time, but being built from nothing in the last 10 years - AND for China now being Boss and destroying industry after industry in rival countries, notably the West, and especially America. A democratic America who the Chinese workers believed sold out their own American workers under free trade to profit the rich few.

When a country is rising and everything is working out, people are reluctant to change horses. So the Chinese worker still does have things they want, but see 160 million jobs added, 11.8% GNP growth a year, gutting other countries industries and China becoming great with all the Money.

Dissidents do a valuable service because they keep on the table what the Chinese people want after they become the greatest nation on Earth and all others must kow-tow to China....but there are still industries that need to be taken to China and a military that is still 10 years from rivaling America's.When China is Boss, they rationalize, that is the time to look at human rights.

" Comrade X said... In a context where the people polled have the highest positive vote for "satisfaction" with government policies than any country on earth.I'll bet North Korea can get poll results that say 215% or 220% satisfaction, whatever it takes."

Pew did the poll and stated that the polls (2007 and in 2009) were conducted freely and anonymously. That approval rates for government in fast-rising developing nations was astronomically high. Led by China at 86%, with India and Bangladesh not too far behind.

The polls were similar to "moving in the right direction" polls, where China again led with 93% positive. Pew also found intense nationalism in the Chinese - with people's goals including "conquering industries China does not yet run", "avenging past humiliations and showing the Americans and Japanese who is #1", and "Retaking Taiwan from the renegades, by force if necessary".

Opposed to that, nations that believe they are going in the wrong direction, jobs wrecked by the Elites and Free Trade include Mexico, the USA, Britain, and Italy - with going in the right direction and government apprival in the teens and the low 20s.

With Western democracies stagnating, with mass public dissatisfaction, China has no reason to emulate them.Maybe in 20-25 years when a concern of "individual rights" can block building a highway or port or power plant for 30 years - but not now. Not when it takes 5-6 years to try and convict a criminal in the West, vs. 2 months in China.

Several dozen developing nations are now saying they look to China to learn how to become prosperous - not the USA with all its "Freedom!! Rights!!" blather.